Vehicle steering-gear.



No. 874,802. PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907. J. P. SIMMONS.

VEHIGLBSTBBRING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED M13 20, 1907- WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTOR EY 50 The adjustments,.may be readily madeat being UNITED s-rArnsPATENT ossron JOHN P. SIMMONS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

VEHIQLE 'STEERING-GEABI -Speci'fication of Letters Patent. I A licationfiled March 20. 1907.- Serial No. 363.868;

Zhatented Dec. 24,1907.

more fully ex lained by reference to the ac--- companying (rawi'ngs, inwbich- Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the hub, Fig. 2 is avertical section is a perspective view of thesleeveand axle. It is theobject of my invention to pro? duce .a central draft steering mechanisrnin which the axle ends extendto the center of,

the steering-wheehand the load'is carried on horizontallydisposedball-bearing turn-tables within the hub of the wheel; the wheel havingalso an independent ball-bearing in the plane of its rotation.

' The wheel :A' 's provided with a hub '2',

which may hold spokes, or disk, or other connections with the peripheralWheel rim.

Within this hub is located aball race, which i's-made'in'sectionsaslshown at 3, ,there an outer and inner annular, section. within whichare assembled the balls {i which form the bearing-around which 'theWheel is revoluble.

5-and 6 are collars; the collar 5 being screwed into the interior of thehub '2, an

the collar 6 being screwed upon a sleeve F located within the interiorrings of the ballrace, and fitting loosely upon the part? This part 7 ischambered from the inner side as will be hereafter described. The sleeveis secured in place by means of a cap 8 which fits" over the outer endof the part7, and is secured by a screw or nut 9. This, part of theconstruction serves to holdand adjust the ball-bearing, 4 which 'is inthe plane of'rota- I claim and desire to secure byLet-ters .Pat- J tionof the wheel, and about which it turns.

any time by removing. the cap 8, and adjusting the ball-race sections bymeans of the rings 5 and 6. Suitable dust-rings are ,fitted betweenthese ball-races to prevent the en trance of dust. The opposite side ofthe transversely of the axis of ,the hub. Fig.3is averticalsectionparallel. to the axis; Fig. 4-

part 7 has an open side of suflicient horizontal width to admit thecircular end 10 of the axle 11. two ends are enlarged in a flat circularform, as at 10, and these flat disks have ball-races carried in thelower surface as shown' at 12.

This: axle is rigid, and its 1 Within these races, a series ofballs '13are fitted andwhen the ends of the axles are in place within the wheelsit will be seen that the weightrestsupon these balls.

The slot or channel made. in the part 7 is horizontal and this-part hasattached to it a lever arm lefrom which connection is made with anysuitableor wellknown' steering mechanism; such -connection being' madewith both 'of the wheels it will he seen-that the'ywill be turnedaboutthe horizontal ball-- bearing tables at theiendsof the axle,"with outchanging the positionof the axle. In

tally'turnable bearings proper relation with each other, Ihave shownachamber order to retainthe members of these horizo'ninade in the upperpartof, the openchannel of the part. 7, such chamberbeingshown at andthis chamber is adapted to receive a or key 15 which thus keeps theweight gib resting upon this ball-bearing 13, and prevents anyseparation and jumping apart of.

' the members in passing over rough going. It

will be'seen at the same time, that the wheel is always turnable in itsvertical plane. around the ball-bearing 4 whatever maybe itschange ofdirection. Thus the steering is perfectly v accomplished without anychange in position of the axle-or part bywhich the weight of the load istransmitted to the'wheel.

I I This hori-f zontal disk bearing being also located in the center ofthe Wheel, all shocks of whatever A nature. are transmitted directlyinthe plane of the .wheelerinror periphery, and isnot transmittedintheform of shocks to the steerin -inechan'1sm. 4

t will be understood that a plurality of ball-races -5-and 6, and ballstherefor, or roll-.

me, maybe employed in the Wheel hub, as is Well known .and usual in thisclass of bearings, without changing-the character of my invention. o a

Having thus described my invention, what b'l'es at eachen andball-bearings fitted orizontal disk-shaped taaround the lower side ofsaid disks, a charnberedwheel-center within which said hori which it isrevoluble, of an zontal bearing is contained, means entering thecontiguous side of the table ends, a vertically disposed ball-bearing,a, wheel hub within which it is fitted, said bearing enabling the wheelto turn freely around the horizontally adjustable portion. 2; In abearin and steering mechanism,a wheel havin a iollow hub, a-ball-bearing, and sectiona l race, one portion of which is fittedwithin-the hub, a sleeve upon which the other portion of the race isfitted, rings fitting'the hub and sleeve whereby the hearing isadjusted, a hollow central portion,- and means securin it within theball-race carrying rin a rigi axle having horizontal circular tab es atopposite ends, ball-races interposed between said table, and acorresponding bearing surface within the wheel, means by which thewheels may be turned to change their direction with relation to theaxle, said wheels bein turnable upon the bearing, which is in t ieirplane of rotation. 3. The combination with a wheel having an: interioranti-frictional 7 bearing about axle having a rigid horizontal disk ortable at. its end, a hollow wheel center .Within which the table islocated, a sleeve inclosing the table, an antifrictional bearingbet'ween'th'e table and the sleeve, and upon which the wheel is turnableabout the vertical axis of thetable, and means entering one side of thehollow Wheel center and bearing directly upon one sideof the disk ortable ends of the axle to maintain a bearing contact at the oppositeside between the table and the contiguous surfaces of the sleeve.

4. The combination with a wheel having mon with the tables, section'abearings between said centers and the wheels the Wall and bearingdirectly upon one side of the table to maintain a bearing contactbetween the wheel and the table bearing.

5. In wheels and axles of the character described, a rigid axle withfixed tables at its ends, horizontally channeled Wheel centers betweenwhich and the tables turnable joints are formed having common axes withthe tables, sectional anti-frictional hearings be-- tween said centersand the wheels, about which the wheels are revoluble, and sectionalcollars within bearings,

6. In Wheels and axles of'the character de scribed, a rigid axle withfixed horizontal tables at the ends, horizontally channeled wheelcenters between which and the tables, turnable'joints-are formed havinaxes in com- Ianti-frictional the wheel hubs ,to adjust the about whichthe wheels are revoluble, sectional collars within the wheel hubs toadjust the bearings and arms connected with the wheels by'which thewheels may be turned about the axes of the table.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN P. SIMMONS.

Witnesses: I

LINCOLN SONNTAG, S; HJN URsE.

